{% include "includes/auth/janrain/signIn_traditional.html" with message='It looks like you are already verified. If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.' %}

Commission continues to look for ways to cut spending

Commission continues to look for ways to cut spending

A majority of Palm Beach County commissioners said Tuesday that they would continue to look for ways to reduce the county’s $3 billion spending plan before it is finalized in September.

The commission praised county administrators for proposing a budget that did not include major cuts in county services. But during an hour-long budget workshop Tuesday, commissioners said the proposal was a “starting point,” adding that they would continue to look for ways trim spending.

“We have done a good job but there is still room for improvement,” Commissioner Jess Santamaria said.

The budget proposal marks the first time in at least three years that commissioners have not been faced with slashing county services to close a shortfall.

After warnings of as much as a $30 million deficit for the budget year that begins Oct. 1, County Administrator Bob Weisman said this month that his staff would be able to balance the budget without proposing any cuts in services.

Under Weisman’s budget proposal, the countywide property tax rate would increase by a fraction of a penny — or 0.3 percent — to just under $5 for every $1,000 of taxable value. The tax rate includes a separate levy for voter-approved debt payments.

This year’s rate was just over $4.99.

At the new rate, the county would bring in $625.4 million next year, or roughly the same amount of property tax revenue it did this year.

Members of the Taxpayer Action Board, a budget watchdog group, urged commissioners during Tuesday’s workshop not to increase the countywide property tax rate, arguing that many residents are already financially strained.

“The real economy remains weak,” said Fred Scheibl, a founder of the action board. “People are still out of work, seeing their savings erode and struggling to make ends meat.”

At least two commissioners – Steven Abrams and Burt Aaronson – said Tuesday that they wanted to keep the property tax rate at this year’s level.

“I think the people have spoken loud and clear and I think it is doable,” Aaronson said.

To keep the rate flat, commissioner would have to cut $2.1 million from Weisman’s current budget proposal.

Weisman told the commission that they county could end up with additional revenue when Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits releases his final tax roll next month. That money could be used to reduce the county’s tax rate or pay for other county services.

A preliminary estimate released by Nikolits’ office last month showed the county’s total tax roll dropped 0.39 percent, from $124.6 billion on the first day of 2011 to $124.1 billion on the first day of 2012.

Any improvement to that forecast would generate additional tax revenue for the county, Weisman said.

Other commissioners said they wanted to return money to the county’s cash-strapped Engineering Department for road and bridge repairs. Faced with a budget shortfall last year, commissioners slashed $5 million for routine road maintenance and repairs.

Commissioner Paulette Burdick urged administrators to look for ways to reduce the county’s health insurance costs by improving wellness programs offered to employees. She also said she wanted to make code enforcement a priority this year.